Page 25 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

I didn’t turn my head to look when we walked through, trying to keep my nerves in check. I had to get through this short walk, then I’d see Aiden and things would be okay. When we turned up the aisle, I first looked at our guests. Skye had Josh in her arms and she was standing with Tina on one side. John was on the other with Gert.

Finally, my attention turned to the man standing waiting for me at the end of the aisle with Ben. My heart pounded in my ears.

Aiden.

And fuck did he look good. My beautiful tattooed angel. He wore a dark grey suit, white shirt and grey tie. In his buttonhole, there was a navy flower which matched the rest of the men and Gert’s dress.

My eyes met his grey ones. Love and complete adoration shone within them. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I trusted James to get me up the aisle in one piece because my legs felt like jelly.

“You okay?” he whispered.

I nodded, still completely unable to tear my gaze away from the man who was about to become my husband. Our entire relationship flashed before my eyes. Every moment passing by in quick succession. From the night we met under the worst sort of circumstances to yesterday when we’d kissed each other goodbye for the last time before we became husband and wife.

Did I regret a single moment between us?

No.

Would I change anything?

No.

As crazy and as fucked up as it was, it brought us to today

Before I could process it all, I was standing in front of him and James gave me a kiss on the cheek. He let go of my arm, placing my hand in Aiden’s. Then he stepped back and took up his place next to Gert.

“You look beautiful, princess,” Aiden said, his deep voice vibrating through me.

“Thank you,” I whispered, not quite trusting my own.

The dress. An almost see-through lace bodice cinched in at the waist with an A-line flowing skirt falling to my feet. I hadn’t wanted a huge princess style dress even though that’s what Aiden called me. Something simple. Sexy but elegant. Gert had sobbed when I came out of the changing room in it. I think even John got misty eyed whilst James told me it was perfect.

Aiden squeezed my hand, smiling at me. The registrar started talking but I barely paid attention to her words. I couldn’t look at anyone else. All I saw was Aiden. He enraptured me. And he was about to make me his wife.

I was promptly brought back to reality when the registrar asked Aiden to make the legal declaration.

“I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, Aiden Lockhart, may not be joined in marriage to Avery Charlotte Daniels.”

I spoke the returning words when asked, staring up into his beautiful face. I didn’t falter even though my hands trembled in his. And when he spoke the contracting words, I thought my heart might burst out of my chest, it was pounding so hard.

I took a deep breath when the registrar asked me to repeat after her.

“I, Avery Charlotte Daniels, take you, Aiden Lockhart, to be my wedded husband.”

The registrar asked Ben if he had the rings, which he brought over and gave the first one to Aiden. They were one of the first things we’d purchased so they’d be ready for our wedding day. Mine was a very simple white gold band and his was slightly thicker and palladium.

He pressed it onto my finger and held it above my knuckle.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and marriage. I promise to love you, care for you, protect you and above all, support you in everything you do throughout our lives together.”

He pressed the ring fully on my finger. I couldn’t breathe. My heart raced out of control. Aiden pledging his love to me was more than I could take. I held onto his hand tighter. I felt a tear slip down my cheek. He smiled, reaching up to brush it away.

“It’s okay, princess, I’ve got you,” he whispered, nodding at me.

Ben brought up my ring for Aiden and pressed it into my hand. I shakily put it on his finger and held it.

“I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and marriage. I promise to love you, care for you, listen to you and above all, support you in everything you do throughout our lives together.”

I managed to get the words out without choking up as I pressed the ring fully on his finger. I wanted to kiss him so badly and when she finally said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride,” I practically threw myself into his arms. Aiden kissed me without any sort of care that all eyes were on us. We drowned in each other for a long minute.

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